Niti Aayog join forces with Microsoft India to inject AI tools in agriculture, healthcare sectors

Microsoft India on Friday signed an agreement with Niti Aayog in order to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in order to address the challenges in agriculture and healthcare sectors.

Microsoft India will also work towards enhancing the use of AI for the development and adoption of local language computing. (Image: Niti Aayog/ Twitter)

New Delhi: Technology conglomerate Microsoft India on Friday signed an agreement with Niti Aayog in order to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in order to address the challenges in agriculture and healthcare sectors and promote adoption of local language computing, among others. “Microsoft India will support NITI Aayog by combining the cloud, AI, research and its vertical expertise for new initiatives and solutions across several core areas,” the company said in a statement. Apart from building capacity for AI among the workforce through education, the tech giant will also work towards enhancing the use of AI for the development and adoption of local language computing. “MicrosoftIndia & #NITI to collaborate on #AI projects in Health, Agri, & regional Natural Language Processing (NLP),to expand use of #AI to rural areas. SoI signed in presence of CEO @amitabhk87, by Adviser @annaroy9 & Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India,” tweeted Niti Aayog. Under the agreement signed between the two parties, Microsoft will provide Niti Aayog advanced AI-based solutions to address challenges in agriculture and healthcare including farm advisory services, healthcare screening models at Primary Health Centres, and building capacity for AI through education among others. Additionally, the statement also stated that Microsoft will promote STEM education in the areas of AI studies and data sciences for young women in institutes identified by NITI Aayog. Announcing the agreement, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said, “For our country, the power of Artificial Intelligence needs to be brought to bear in sectors like healthcare, education, environment and agriculture, which are important for the inclusive development of India. This partnership will help us move beyond pilots and understand how to scale AI implementation in sectors characterized by a preponderance of public goods.” “In healthcare segment, Microsoft will build AI assisted models for Diabetic Retinopathy screening models to support early risk detection, risk assessment and timely medical intervention,” said the company adding that these models will be deployed as Proof of Concept (POCs) across Primary Health Centers identified by NITI Aayog. (With agency inputs)